Arab News Japan

DUBAI: Japanese company Obayashi Corporation’s ‘space elevator’ project is on track to begin construction in 2025, making it possible for humans to take an elevator to outer space by 2050.

The company’s aim is to make space travel more cost-effective, fast and sustainable.

The project was first announced in 2014, and it seems Obayashi Corporation is set on making the concept become reality.

The technology used will involve a cable made from carbon nanotubes (CNTs) measuring 59,651 miles long, which will form the base of the journey’s route.

A Japanese engineer discovered CNTs in 1991 and it is said to be the only material appropriate for this project.

The Space Elevator Construction Concept will take place over multiple stages, with the materials needing to be assembled first.

This includes the cable, space station and elevator mechanism, which will be sent into Earth’s low orbit.

Afterwards, a spaceship will lower the CNT cable down to Earth, achieving the necessary tension after about 95998 kilometers.

The rest of the material will be sent up the cable in climber units, with engineers as well.

According to the corporation, the space elevator would emit less emissions and would not require fuel to operate. The company also said it would potentially only cost a few thousand dollars to send one of its climbers into space.

Each climber could carry 30 passengers and get them to space in about a week thanks to speeds of 199 kmh.